Project XL is a voluntary state and federal pilot program. It supports regulated parties that demonstrate excellence and leadership (XL) in protecting the environment and who are willing to undertake new initiatives that go beyond the existing requirements of state and federal law. In exchange for their superior environmental performance, these parties will receive increased operational flexibility and reduced environmental-management costs.

• Project XL in Minnesota
• Criteria Used to Select an XL Pilot Project
• Ensuring Public Participation in Developing and Implementing Project XL Pilots
• Past Success
• Related Legislation
• Pilot Projects in Minnesota
• More Information and Links

Project XL in Minnesota

At this date, Minnesota is the only state authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to undertake Project XL pilot projects.

A Project XL pilot can focus on a single facility, an industrial sector, a regulated governmental unit or a community. These projects will extend to protect environmental media including air, water and land. XL documents will take the place of individual permits that participating facilities might hold.

Participating facilities will work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to develop the XL agreements, which might take about six months. Pilot projects will undertake additional record keeping for several years so that it will be possible to gauge the program's effectiveness. However, facility operators should expect to save both time and money as a result of their participation.

Criteria Used to Select an XL Pilot Project

The following eight criteria are used in selecting an XL Project:

1. XL project proposer's commitment to superior environmental performance.
2. Project will result in cost savings and paperwork reductions.
3. Proposal provides for public participation and stakeholder support.
4. Proposal provides for innovative, multimedia and pollution-prevention approaches.
5. Project has a high likelihood of being transferable to other regulated parties or sectors.
6. Project is feasible; it can be implemented.
7. Proposal provides for monitoring, reporting and evaluation, both to demonstrate compliance and to measure the success of the pilot.
8. Project does not shift the risk burden to a different environmental medium or a different population.

Ensuring Public Participation in Developing and Implementing Project XL Pilots

Project XL permits or agreements are placed on public notice for review and comment. In addition, an independent, multi-stakeholder group organized by the Pollution Prevention Dialogue of the University of Minnesota acts as advisors on Project XL. This group reviews and comments on the design, implementation and evaluation of each XL pilot project. The multistakeholder group consists of representatives from industry, government, public interest and academia.

Past Success

The MPCA's belief that XL will be a success is founded on a project that the MPCA and 3M undertook in 1992 and 1993. This project resulted in an innovative air quality permit. It provides precedent-setting operational flexibility by preauthorizing facility modification as long as air emissions remain below a cap set at 50 percent less than was actually emitted in 1991.

Not only has significant environmental benefit resulted from this permit, but also 3M MPCA costs have been reduced.

Between March 1993 and January 1995, 3M made 21 changes that would have required permit modifications. This resulted in two important benefits for 3M. The company saved 1,530 hours that would have been spent on permit applications and other administrative time, and 3M was able to get its products to market more quickly.

The MPCA also save3d time, an estimated 700 hours of staff time that would have been expended in preparing and processing seven major permit modifications.

Related Legislation

The following document describes Minnesota's regulatory innovations legislation. Note: This document is in portable document format (PDF), and you will need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer to view it. Visit our PDF info page to find out more about Adobe Acrobat. Or,

Regulatory Innovations Legislation

Pilot Projects in Minnesota

The 3M company, located in Hutchinson, Minnesota, was the first pilot project. Although the project is no longer active, the documents listed below provide examples of permits and agreements used during the project. This may be useful to other companies considering a pilot project.

3M Hutchinson Permit Technical Support for Air Issues
3M Hutchinson XL Final Project Agreement (FPA)
Draft 3M Hutchinson Permit
3M Hutchinson Air Quality Compliance Demonstration

More Information and Links

For more information about Project XL, contact Andy Ronchak at (612) 296-3107.

Additional information about Project XL is available at the EPA Web site.